Airbus Beluga Transport has used one of its A300-600ST aircraft, conducted its first cargo flight to the United States after obtaining a Foreign Air Carrier Permit earlier in the year.
The freight carrier transported an Eutelsat 36D satellite on March 11 from Bordeaux Mérignac to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with layovers at various locations before arriving at Orlando Sanford.
Airbus Beluga Transport operates four A300-600STs, offering outsized cargo capabilities for loads that traditional freighters cannot easily transport, acquired from sister carrier Airbus Transport International.
The new carrier aims to address the gap in the market for outsized cargo transport, especially following the reduction in available An-124s and Il-76s due to recent geopolitical events, and plans to expand its capabilities to carry large helicopters and aircraft engines.
